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Updated: Jun 20, 2026

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development
08:50

A Murine Model of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Inflammation to Study the Effects of Acute Chorioamnionitis on Newborn Intestinal Development

Published on: June 24, 2020

Fetal infections and brain development

James F Bale1

  • 1Division of Pediatric Neurology, Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, The University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84158, USA. james.bale@hsc.utah.edu

Clinics in Perinatology
|September 8, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Rapid diagnostics and imaging identify intrauterine and perinatal infections. Early postnatal therapy improves outcomes for congenital infections like toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus, but challenges remain.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Pediatric Neurology

Background:

  • Intrauterine and perinatal infections pose significant risks to infant neurodevelopment.
  • Diagnostic tools and imaging techniques have advanced for pathogen identification and CNS effect characterization.
  • Despite advancements, prevention through immunization is not available for all key pathogens.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for intrauterine and perinatal infections.
  • To highlight the impact of these infections on long-term child health outcomes.
  • To emphasize the importance of timely intervention for affected neonates.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current microbial diagnostics for rapid and specific pathogen identification.
  • Utilization of CT and MRI for characterizing central nervous system effects.
  • Discussion of therapeutic approaches for specific congenital infections.

Main Results:

  • Effective diagnostics and imaging aid in identifying causative agents and neurological sequelae.
  • Postnatal therapy for congenital Toxoplasma gondii, Toxoplasma pallidum, Toxoplasma cruzi, and cytomegalovirus infections can improve outcomes.
  • Prompt acyclovir therapy is crucial for suspected perinatal herpes simplex virus encephalitis.

Conclusions:

  • Intrauterine and perinatal infections remain critical causes of childhood disabilities globally.
  • Early diagnosis and targeted postnatal therapy are essential to mitigate severe neurodevelopmental consequences.
  • Continued research and improved management strategies are needed to reduce the burden of these infections.

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